Abstract
Germ cells of sexually reproducing organisms receive an array of cues from somatic tissues that instruct developmental processes. Although the nature of these signals differs amongst organisms, the importance of germline-soma interactions is a common theme. Recently, peptide hormones from the nervous system have been shown to regulate germ cell development in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea; thus, we sought to investigate a second class of hormones with a conserved role in reproduction, the lipophilic hormones. In order to study these signals, we identified a set of putative lipophilic hormone receptors, known as nuclear hormone receptors, and analyzed their functions in reproductive development. We found one gene, nhr-1, belonging to a small class of functionally uncharacterized lophotrochozoan-specific receptors, to be essential for the development of differentiated germ cells. Upon nhr-1 knockdown, germ cells in the testes and ovaries fail to mature, and remain as undifferentiated germline stem cells. Further analysis revealed that nhr-1 mRNA is expressed in the accessory reproductive organs and is required for their development, suggesting that this transcription factor functions cell non-autonomously in regulating germ cell development. Our studies identify a role for nuclear hormone receptors in planarian reproductive maturation and reinforce the significance of germline-soma interactions in sexual reproduction across metazoans.
Keywords: Nuclear hormone receptor, Germ cell, Accessory reproductive organ, Lophotrochozoa, Planaria
INTRODUCTION
Maturation and maintenance of germ cells in sexually reproducing animals requires a sophisticated network of systemic cues. In mammals, it has been appreciated for decades that long-range endocrine signals influence germ cells (Neill, 2006); however, the roles of these cues in invertebrate reproductive development have only recently begun to be characterized. The planarian Schmidtea mediterranea has become an excellent model for studying reproductive biology due to its dynamic germline regulation and developmental plasticity (Newmark et al., 2008). Classic experiments have shown that planarians possess the ability to regenerate a complete germline from fragments of adult worms devoid of reproductive tissues, suggesting that germ cells are specified from somatic stem cells (Morgan, 1902). Furthermore, planarians can resorb or regenerate their reproductive organs in response to physiological cues, including nutrient status (Miller and Newmark, 2012), injury (Wang et al., 2007), overall body size, and temperature (Curtis, 1902). This dynamic regulation ensures that reproductive development commences under optimal conditions and must involve communication between a number of organ systems.
Several lines of evidence indicate that signals between somatic tissues and the germline are key for the development of the planarian reproductive system. For example, the neurally derived peptide hormone NPY-8 controls germ cell differentiation and the development of accessory reproductive organs (Collins et al., 2010). Additionally, the planarian homologue of a conserved sex determination factor, dmd-1, is expressed in somatic niche cells of the testes as well as male accessory reproductive organs, and is required for specification, development, and maintenance of male germ cells (Chong et al., 2013). Conversely, signals from the germ cells are also required for the development of accessory reproductive structures. Knockdown of nanos, a key regulator of germ cell development that is expressed in male and female germline stem cells (GSCs)(Handberg-Thorsager and Salo, 2007; Sato et al., 2006; Wang et al., 2007)), results in the loss of germ cells and subsequently accessory reproductive organs (Wang et al., 2007). Collectively, these results indicate that long-range signals between the germline and soma are important in planarian reproductive development; however, the identities of most of the signals being sent and received remain unknown.
Nuclear hormone receptors (NHRs) are ligand-binding transcription factors that regulate a diverse array of developmental and physiological processes in metazoans, with sexual development being among the most renowned. In mammals, androgen (Wang et al., 2009), progesterone (Chappell et al., 1997), and estrogen receptors (Walker and Korach, 2004) all have well-established roles in both male and female sex organ development and reproductive functions. Recent studies have shown that endocrine regulation of reproduction by NHRs is not limited to mammals. For example, studies in Drosophila melanogaster females have revealed the steroid hormone, ecdysone, that is structurally similar to mammalian sex steroids, and the ecdysone receptor (EcR) are required for the maintenance and proliferation of GSCs (Ables and Drummond-Barbosa, 2010) as well as the progression of egg chambers beyond mid-oogenesis (Buszczak et al., 1999; Carney and Bender, 2000). Also in Drosophila females, the orphan NHR Hr39 is essential for development of the spermathecae and parovaria glands that produce secretions required for sperm storage and ovulation, respectively (Allen and Spradling, 2008; Sun and Spradling, 2013). Within its massive collection of 284 NHRs, C. elegans requires a subset of receptors for reproduction, including nhr-6 for spermathecal development, proper female germ cell morphology, and ovulation (Gissendanner et al., 2008); nhr-25 for somatic gonad and vulva development (Asahina et al., 2000); nhr-67 for vulva development; and nhr-85 for egg laying (Gissendanner et al., 2004). Even the rotifer, Brachionus manjavacas, an ancient lophotrochozoan, contains a conserved progesterone receptor necessary for reproduction (Stout et al., 2010). Thus, lipophilic hormones and their receptors have critical roles in the reproductive potential of sexual organisms; however, this subject remains unexplored in planarians.
Here, we exploit the functional genomic tools available for S. mediterranea to characterize the planarian NHR complement. By comparing NHR expression between sexually and asexually reproducing worms we identified a novel two DNA-binding domain hormone receptor, nhr-1, that is required for the development of differentiated germ cells in the testes and ovaries, as well as accessory reproductive organs. Interestingly, this gene is detected exclusively in male and female accessory reproductive organs, suggesting that soma-germline interactions mediated by lipophilic hormones promote sexual maturity in the planarian.
Materials and Methods
Planarian culture
Sexual planarians were maintained in 0.75X Montjuïc salts at 18°C (Cebria and Newmark, 2005). Asexual planarians were maintained in a 1X solution of Instant Ocean Sea Salts at 20°C. Both strains were fed pureed calf liver weekly or once every two weeks. Animals were starved at least one week before all experiments.
Gene identification and cloning
NHR sequences were identified by comparing conserved sequences from other metazoans, such as M. musculus, D. melanogaster, C. elegans, and S. mansoni, to planarian transcriptomic and genomic data. NHR sequence data were retrieved from UniProtKB and compared to S. mediterranea transcriptomic (Rouhana et al., 2012) http://planmine.mpi-cbg.de/planmine/begin.do (Rink, manuscript in preparation) and genomic data (Robb et al., 2008) using BLAST with an e-value of ≤1e-10. Sequences for all predicted NHRs were confirmed by PCR amplification and DNA sequencing. Primer sequences for PCR experiments are listed in Table S2. These genes were each TA cloned in pJC53.2 as described previously (Collins et al., 2010). To compare planarian NHR sequences to those of other organisms, individual DNA-binding and ligand-binding domain sequences were obtained using the Pfam database. NCBI BLASTP was used to infer similarity with previously described NHRs in other organisms of interest. Protein sequences were then aligned using Lasergene MegAlign software with ClustalW analysis.
Quantitative RT-PCR
Relative quantities of each planarian NHR transcript were examined in the sexual vs. asexual strains by extracting RNA from three individuals of each strain using TriZol Reagent (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA). DNase treatment and reverse transcription (iScript cDNA Synthesis Kit, Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA) were performed to generate cDNAs for each sample. Quantitative PCR was performed using GoTaq 10X PCR Master Mix (Promega) according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and an Applied Biosystems StepOnePlus real-time PCR system. Each of the three biological replicates was analyzed in triplicate and an expression level of each NHR was normalized to levels of β-tubulin. Primer sequences for qPCR experiments are listed in Table S2.
Riboprobe synthesis and in situ hybridization
For sexual and asexual animals, in situ hybridizations were carried out as previously described (King and Newmark, 2013) with the following modifications. Planarians were killed in 10% N-acetyl cysteine for 10 minutes, fixed in formaldehyde for one hour at room temperature, and permeabilized for one hour in 5 μg/ml proteinase K. Samples were imaged as previously described (Collins et al., 2010).
RNA Interference
Synthesis of dsRNA for nhr-1 and control RNAi treatments was performed as described previously (Collins et al., 2010). For RNAi experiments, juvenile animals were fed 5 μg dsRNA in 45 μL 3:1 liver:water mix once every four days for 8 feedings. Up to six worms were used per sample. Animals were then starved one week before further analyses. Under these feeding conditions all immature worms fed control dsRNA reached sexual maturity based on their size and the presence of a gonopore. The nhr-1(RNAi) phenotype was scored by manually counting the number of regressed versus normal testes lobes and ovaries visualized using DAPI labeling and fluorescence microscopy.
RESULTS
Nuclear hormone receptors are expressed differentially between sexually and asexually reproducing planarians
To investigate potential roles of lipophilic hormone signaling in planarian sexual development, we identified and characterized NHRs in the planarian S. mediterranea. Structurally, NHRs possess two distinct domains: a zinc finger DNA-binding domain and a lipophilic ligand-binding domain. These domains are highly conserved and can be used to identify genes within the superfamily. In comparing known NHR sequences from other metazoan species to planarian transcriptomic data, we generated a list of 23 putative planarian NHRs (Table S1). Although two of these receptors have been studied previously (i.e., planarian homologues of the hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (Wagner et al., 2011) and the tailless/TLX-1 genes (Raska et al., 2011)) most are uncharacterized in planarians. Among these are genes sharing similarity with the vertebrate retinoid X receptor, thyroid hormone receptor, and COUP transcription factor (Table S1).
With this gene set in hand, we took advantage of the two reproductively distinct strains of S. mediterranea to compare the expression profiles of individual planarian NHR genes. The sexually reproducing strain exists as cross-fertilizing hermaphrodites and possesses both male and female gonads as well as a set of accessory reproductive organs. The asexually reproducing strain undergoes transverse fission and is devoid of accessory reproductive organs, but possesses rudimentary gonads (Chong et al., 2013; Wang et al., 2007). We hypothesized that NHR genes expressed at higher levels in sexual planarians might have important roles in controlling the development of the reproductive system; thus, we analyzed the expression levels of each NHR gene in sexual vs. asexual planarians by quantitative PCR. From these studies, we identified four genes that were expressed at significantly higher levels with a fold change greater than 2 (p < 0.01) in sexual planarians (Table S1).
The nuclear hormone receptor, nhr-1, belongs to a unique class of receptors containing two DNA-binding domains
Based on our qPCR experiments, we focused on nhr-1 because it was expressed more than 20 times higher in sexual planarians and belonged to a unique class of NHRs with unknown function. In contrast to most NHRs that possess a single DNA-binding domain, nhr-1 encodes a predicted protein containing a pair of adjacent DNA-binding motifs followed by a single ligand-binding domain (Fig. 1A). Interestingly, this unique NHR domain structure is found in three other planarian proteins, nhr-2, nhr-3, and nhr-6, (Table S1) and in orthologous proteins found in other Lophotrochozoans, including mollusks and parasitic flatworms (Wu et al., 2007). Previously, a similar NHR with two DNA-binding domains was predicted from the genome of the Ecdysozoan Daphnia pulex (Wu et al., 2007). However, closer analysis of more recent sets of genomic data failed to confirm the presence of this gene in the assembled Daphnia pulex genome (Colbourne et al., 2011) or in available transcriptomic data. Since proteins with similar domain structures were not found in other Ecdysozoan or Deuterostome genomes (Wu et al., 2007), it is likely this family of receptors is unique to Lophotrochozoans.
Consistent with previous studies, sequence analysis of the individual NHR-1 DNA-binding domains indicates that they share more similarity with DNA-binding domains from other organisms than to one another (Fig. 1A)(Wu et al., 2007). In particular, the individual DNA-binding domains of NHR-1 were closely related to the cognate domains from an orthologous protein of unknown function from the human parasitic flatworm Schistosoma mansoni (Fig. 1A).
nhr-1 mRNA is expressed in male and female accessory reproductive organs
To visualize nhr-1 mRNA expression in S. mediterranea, we performed whole-mount and fluorescence in situ hybridization experiments on sexual and asexual planarians. Consistent with our qPCR results, we did not detect nhr-1 above background levels in asexual worms, and observed nhr-1 expression in the accessory reproductive tissues of sexual planarians. Specifically, expression was observed in the tuba (the sperm storage organ just below the ovaries in the anterior region of the worm), oviducts, sperm ducts, copulatory bursa, seminal vesicles, and penis papilla (Fig. 1C–G). We did not detect nhr-1 mRNA in male or female gonads.
Further analyses of nhr-1 expression during development were performed in sexual worms shortly after hatching from the egg capsule and during juvenile stages of sexual development (Fig. 2A–C). Consistent with our observations in asexual and mature sexual worms, we observed no expression of nhr-1 in newly hatched planarians that lack reproductive tissues (Fig. 2A). However, during the process of sexual maturation in juvenile worms, we observed varying levels of nhr-1 expression depending on the stage of development. In many cases, we observed nhr-1-positive cells coalescing in the regions where the mature organs will be formed in the adult planarian (Fig. 2B and B′). Occasionally, we detected weak signal in the intestine; however, this signal was not affected following nhr-1 RNAi treatment, indicating this intestinal signal is non-specific. Interestingly, an nhr-1 paralog containing two DNA-binding domains, nhr-2, was also expressed at higher levels in sexual planarians (Figure S1A). In situ hybridization detected nhr-2 expression in the cells of the penis papilla (Figure S1B).
nhr-1 is required for the development of accessory reproductive organs
Given its broad expression in the reproductive system, we hypothesized that nhr-1 plays a role in regulating planarian sexual development or function. To test this hypothesis, we used RNA interference (RNAi) to disrupt nhr-1 expression and examined the consequences on the reproductive system. For these experiments, we fed juvenile planarians nhr-1 or control double-stranded RNA every four days for approximately one month, which resulted in a 94% reduction in nhr-1 mRNA levels in nhr-1(RNAi) animals compared to controls (Fig. S2A). Since nhr-1 was detected exclusively in accessory reproductive tissues of the planarian, we examined if nhr-1 loss disrupted the development of these organs using previously reported markers (Chong et al., 2011). Consistent with a role for nhr-1 in the development of the accessory reproductive organs, we found that nhr-1(RNAi) planarians had reduced expression of markers for the oviducts (eya), sperm ducts (grn), seminal vesicles (grn), and cement glands (tsp-1) (3/3 nhr-1(RNAi) animals vs. 0/3 control(RNAi) animals) (Fig. 3A–F′). Additionally, reduction of nhr-1 prevented development of the gonopore (Fig. 3C′ and F′). The relative quantity of each accessory reproductive organ marker is shown by qRT-PCR in control and nhr-1(RNAi) worms (Fig. S2A). Taken together, these data suggest that nhr-1 is required for the development of accessory reproductive tissues, including structures that lack high levels of nhr-1 expression, such as the gonopore and cement glands.
nhr-1 is required for male and female germ cell development
Since nhr-1 functions in the development of somatic reproductive tissues, we next wanted to test whether this gene plays a role in the development of the male and female germ cells. The male germ cells reside in numerous testis lobes that occupy the dorsolateral region of the adult worm. In reproductively mature animals, each testis lobe contains the different stages of germ cell development: the outermost spermatogonial layer possesses the nanos+ GSCs that divide to produce spermatogonia, and differentiate to produce spermatocytes, spermatids, and finally mature sperm (Wang et al., 2010). The germ cells are ensheathed by somatic cells (Chong et al., 2013).
To test whether nhr-1 is required for germ cell development, we disrupted nhr-1 expression using RNAi and analyzed the planarian testes using nanos mRNA to label the GSCs and DAPI to label nuclei. Consistent with a role of nhr-1 in testis development, the majority of testis lobes in nhr-1 knockdown animals lost all sperm, spermatids, and spermatocytes (96%, n=3745 testis lobes from 20 nhr-1(RNAi) animals vs. 5%, n=4861 testis lobes from 20 control (RNAi) animals)(Fig. 4 A–C″). As a result, the testes clusters of nhr-1(RNAi) planarians were almost entirely composed of nanos+ cells (6/7 nhr-1(RNAi) animals vs. 0/2 control (RNAi) animals) (Fig. 4B–C″). Even in the most severe nhr-1 knockdown animals, we still observed clusters of GSCs expressing nanos, and unchanged nanos mRNA levels compared to control(RNAi) animals (measured by qRT-PCR, Fig. S2B), indicating that nhr-1 is not required for the maintenance of GSCs, but for the maturation and/or differentiation of male germ cells.
We also examined the ovaries of nhr-1 knockdown animals using germinal histone 4 (gH4), a marker for undifferentiated germ cells and neoblasts (Wang et al., 2010; Wang et al., 2007)(Fig. 4D–F″). The planarian ovaries are located at the base of the cephalic ganglia where oocytes differentiate from GSCs before being deposited into the tuba for fertilization (Chong et al., 2011; Newmark et al., 2008). Using fluorescent in situ hybridization for gH4 mRNA and Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) microscopy, we observed well-organized mature ovaries producing oocytes in control double-stranded RNA-treated planarians (Fig. 4D, E–E″; n= 4/4). By contrast, inhibition of nhr-1 resulted in loss of ooctyes and irregular ovary morphology (Fig. 4D′, F–F″; n=10/10). In these nhr-1(RNAi) planarians we only observed scattered gH4-positive cells in the region in which the ovaries should reside (Fig. 4F–F″). Together, these data indicate that nhr-1 is required for normal male and female germ cell development.
DISCUSSION
By comparing the expression of NHR mRNAs in sexual and asexual planarians, we identified nhr-1 as a key regulator of planarian sexual development. We found that nhr-1 is essential for the development of accessory reproductive structures, and further, required for the differentiation and maturation of male and female germ cells. Robust nhr-1 expression was detected in the accessory reproductive organs; by contrast, it was not detected in germ cells. Based on these observations, we suggest that nhr-1 is acting cell non-autonomously to regulate germ cell development from the accessory reproductive organs. Interestingly, our results parallel those of Drosophila Hr39 that is required for spermathecae and parovaria gland development. Since these reproductive glands produce secretions that are required for germ cell viability, Hr39, like nhr-1, acts cell non-autonomously in germ cells by maintaining somatic reproductive structures (Sun and Spradling, 2013). Collectively, these findings reinforce the idea that long-range hormonal signals between the soma and germline are a critical driver of planarian sexual development, as well as support an essential role for NHR signaling in regulating sexual reproduction in a diverse array of metazoans.
Planarian germline-soma dynamics
Based on our data, the development of planarian germ cells and somatic reproductive organs is interconnected, ensuring that one system does not grow and differentiate prematurely, before the other system is ready. For example, sperm should not mature before the seminal vesicles, required for sperm storage, have developed. We suggest that signaling between the germline and soma allows for the coordinated development and maturation of both the planarian germ cells and the accessory reproductive organs as follows: (1) a lipophilic hormone is produced and activates nhr-1 in accessory reproductive tissues. (2) In turn, nhr-1 regulates the transcription of genes responsible for the development and maturation of accessory reproductive organs. (3) As these accessory organs mature, they send uncharacterized signals back to the germ cells, instructing them to develop in tandem with the accessory reproductive structures. Our model is consistent with phenotypes in which the loss of accessory reproductive structures (i.e. nhr-1 RNAi) leads to germline regression. In the case of planarian dmd-1, which is expressed in the somatic testes cells and male accessory reproductive organs, loss of male germ cells is observed while the female accessory reproductive organs and germ cells remain (Chong et al., 2013). Conversely, it is known that loss of germ cells (e.g., in nanos RNAi) leads to regression of the accessory reproductive structures upon amputation and regeneration of head fragments (Wang et al., 2007). Clearly, communication between the accessory reproductive tissues and gonads is critical for the maturation, maintenance, and plasticity of these organ systems.
Potential roles in flatworm parasite biology
The parasitic flatworm Schistosoma mansoni infects more than 200 million people worldwide, causing disease-associated disability comparable with that of global killers including malaria, tuberculosis, or HIV/AIDS (Chitsulo et al., 2000; Collins and Newmark, 2013; Hotez and Fenwick, 2009; King and Dangerfield-Cha, 2008). The primary driver of the pathology associated with Schistosoma infection is attributed to the host immune response against the massive egg output of the parasite. In fact, schistosomes incapable of egg production cause virtually no pathology in their mammalian host (Basch, 1991; Collins and Newmark, 2013). Thus, blunting schistosome reproduction represents an appealing means by which to control pathology while simultaneously preventing the spread of the disease. NHR-1 belongs to a novel family of hormone receptors that is conserved among lophotrochozoans, including planarians and schistosomes. Since this family of receptors does not appear to be present in mammals, and is essential for planarian reproduction, understanding the function of this group of receptors in schistosomes could illuminate novel avenues for therapeutic intervention.
Supplementary Material
Highlights.
Planarians contain a lophotrochozoan-specific class of two DNA-binding domain nuclear hormone receptors
nhr-1 is expressed solely in the sexually reproducing strain of S. mediterranea
nhr-1 expression is detected in male and female accessory reproductive structures
Development of the accessory reproductive organs and germ cells requires nhr-1
Acknowledgments
We thank Dr. Melanie Issigonis and Amir Saberi for their comments on the manuscript, as well as the members of the Newmark lab for helpful discussions. This work was supported by NIH R21AI099642 and R01HD043403 (P.A.N.). P.A.N. is an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Footnotes
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